Bowling-game apparatus.



W. J. POWELL & S. M. PONTIERE.

BOWLING GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JArLse, 1914.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

2 SHEETb-BHBET 1 W. J. POWELL & S. M. PONTIERE.

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Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

UNITED: STATES. PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. POWELL AND STANLEY I. PONTIEBE, OF OCEAN CITY, NEW JERSEY; SAID PONTIEBE ABSIGNOB TO SAID POWELL.

VIBOWLINCL-GAME arranarus.

. Patented Nov. 24,1914.

Application filed January 29, 1914. Serial No. 815,281.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM J. Pownu. and STANLEY M. PONTIERE, citizens of the United States, residing at Ocean City, in the county of Cape May and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Bowling-Game Apparatus, of which the followin is a specification.

The invention has for an object to introduce a new element of novelt into a bowling game, as well as to provide anew and simple means for resetting a plurallty of pins or the like. b

An important object is to provide a means for indicating in a humorous manner when, in a game where a group of ins are to be bowled at, the ball fails to strike any of the pins.

An important object is to enable the simple mounting of such a device and also to provide for its resetting coincidently with, and with the same mechanism that operates, the pins.

Other objects and advantages will appear, some of which will be apparent from the following description, and from the drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a top view of a game constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view thereof. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 4 is a cross section thereof. Fig. 5 is a detail of the miss indicator. Fig. 6 is a further detail thereof. Fig. 7 is a detail of a pin steadying device.

There is illustrated a game comprising an alley formed by two side walls 10 and a bowling floor 11, at each side of which there are formed valleys 12 similar to those familiar in other like games. While the alley may be built into the floor of a hall or other place, the device as illustrated is shown in such form as to be adapted to be set upon a floor already constructed, whether intended for such purpose or not. The alley is supported by a suitable number of legs 13 secured to each side of the alley. The floor 11 is provided with a plurality of longitudinal slots 14 at its rear end, opening through the top and bottom and on the rear end, all having the same length. Immediately beneath the forward ends of these slots there is mounted a shaft 15 havin its ends secured in the walls 10. On this s aft there are mounted pin elements 16, com risable pivotally to lie with their upper ends flush with the top of the floor 11. Formed integrally on the outer ends of the members 17 or attached thereto there are respective pin portions 18 corresponding in form to ten-plus or having any other desired configuration. The bottom portions 17 of the pin elements have an extension 19 below the shaft 15, which may be extended dia onally toward the rear side of the portions'l if desired.- Pivoted upon the shaft 15 outwardly of the pin elements there is a resettin oke 20 having a transverse bar 21 acef f rom the shaft and held at the forwar and upper limit of its movement by means of a sprin or springs 22. The bar 21 is so dispose as to be engaged by the extensions 19 of the pin elements when the upper portions of" the pin elements fall rearwardly. Connected to the bar 21 there is a cable 23 extending rearwardly throu h a pulley 24 suitably mounted below the% 11, thence forwardly a short distance, bein connected to the rear end of a sliding rod 25 supported by one or more brackets 26 and having its forward end supported slidably upon the right hand forward leg 13. Incorporated in this rod adjacent the last named leg there is a slotted block 27 receiving the lower end of a lever 28 pivoted at an intermediate point on a suitable bracket 29 fixed to the leg. The upper end of this lever projects above the floor 11 and is adapted to be pressed rearwardly to draw the bar 21 downwardly and rearwardly to force any fallen pin elements into erected position. The bottom of each valley is also slotted at its rear part, and mounted thereon there is a valley pin 30, having a knobbed upper end, this pin being normally inclined forwardly with the knob so disposed as to engage any ball which fails to strike one of the pin portions 18. Connected to this pin 30 so as to be raised into view when the pin is moved by a ball there is an indicator 31, preferably having some amusing shape, such as that of a monkey, as in the present case. As shown, the monkey is mounted in a recess 31 formed in the wall 10 and opening-on the upper side thereof, being evel of the floor 'revolubly on the shaft 15, and attached to the pin 30. It is found preferable to mount the, pin directly on this sleeve by boring the pin to permit the sleeve to be engaged therethrough. The pin 30 also has an extension at its lower part 19, adapted to be engaged bythe bar 21 and moved to initial position at the same time with the pin ele-' ment 16. Under this movement the'pin 30 is reset, and the monkey moved downwardly into the recess 31, thus being concealed from sight. Mounted over the alley closely adjacent the pin elements there is a bridge 33 having a set of figures indicating the respective values in points for knocking down the various pins. If desired, this bridge maycarry a series of spring elements 34,

shaped and disposed to bear upon the upper ends of respective pins when erect, so as to frictionally hold them against being upset accidentally, through vibration, this detail being illustrated in Fig. 7. it is not thought thatthis will be required, however, if the shaft 15 is engaged with the pin element slightly to the rear of their center of gravity, as shown in Fig. 3. a

The walls 10 are extended, rearwardly of the floor l1 and elevated slightly, as at 35, the rear end being closed in a suitable way, and provided with a suitable padding 36 extending downwardly below the level of the floor 11, being inclined forwardly both at the top and bottom, an inclined floor be ing provided therebeneath and a partition 38 being erected immediately adjacent the rear end of the floor 11, whereby the walls are directed toan opening 39 in the partition, from which they drop upon a return alley 40 extending forwardly at a slight inclination so that the balls are returned to a point conveniently within reach at the forwardend of the alley. The sides of the space between the padding and the partition are of course closed. If desired, a netting may be extended forwardly from the upper edge of the padding, whereby balls will be caught if they fly upwardly after striking the pins. It is not believed that the latter is required, however.

It may be found desirable to locate the miss indicator at some other point than that shown, and I do not regard my invention as limited to the specific showing in this application, but to include such changes as the use of an indicator of this nature at any desired point, and the use of suitable connections between it and an actuating element in the valley.

It will be appreciated that the construction of the resetting mechanism is very efficient and economical and liable in a minimum degree to derangement, a single shaft serving for all the pins and the resetting yoke 20.

A ball a1 is used, having a proper 1,1 were diameter for bowling, not less than the space between the centers of two adjacent pins;

having a transverse bar spaced within the radius of said extenslons, resillent means holding the bar at the forward limit of its movement, means for moving the yoke for engagement with the extensions, and a ball, for projection along the alley and engagement against the pins.

, 2. A game of the class described comprising an alley having a floor and valleys at each side, a pluralilgr of Ion itudinal slots being formed 1n the cor, a s ot being formed in each valley, a horizontal shaft extending transversely of the slots therebeneath, pin elements in respective slots pivoted on the shaft for oscillation under impact of a ball, an indicator device connected to the pin in each valley for. elevation under engagement of the pin by a ball, means to conceal said indicator when at the lower limit of its movement, a yoke member pivoted on said shaft and having a transverse bar in the plane of oscillation of all the pins, spaced from said shaft, all of the ins having extensions below the shaft 0 greater radius than the bar and adapted to engage the bar, resilient means to hold the bar at one limit of its movement to be engaged by the extensions of the pins when upset, means to oscillate said yoke to reset the pins and indicator, and a ball for the purpose described.

3. In a bowling game apparatus, an alley structure having a floor spacefor the erection of target elements, and spaces laterally of the first named space for the passage of projectiles clear of the target elements, a yielding movable member in each of the lateral spaces, in indicator connected thereto for movement over a predetermined distance, means to conceal the indicator in initial position, and means to reset the indicator and said movable member after operation.

4:. In a bowling game, an alley structure including a floor having a valley formed at 1 each side thereof, a slot formed centrally of each valley at its rear art, a pin member mounted for oscillation in the slot to project tions between the indicator and pin memtherefrom, and an indicator, projected from for discovery of the indicator upon movethe last namedmember at an angle to the 15 ment of the pin member from the alley. radius of the said last named pin member 5. In a bowling game apparatus, an alley and means to reset all of the pin members. 5 structure including a slotted floor, valleys In testimony whereof we have hereunto at each side and lpin members pivoted for set our hands m presence of two subscribing oscillation in the s otsila common pivot shaft witnesses.

being enga d throu the pin members and WILLIAM J POWELL.

rojectin eath t e valleys slots formed 10 E1 the va eys, a member pivoted on the shaft STANLEY PONTIERE- beneath each valley and oscillable to project Witnesses: into the valley throu h the slot, 9. member MARY T. Rusn, fixed to the pin an projecting laterally Lora L. Common. 

